Two weeks ahead of the 2011 (British) Open Championship, Rory McIlroy is the odds on favorite at 5/1. That’s as it should be, for he’s just one hole (the tenth at Augusta) from playing for the third leg of a Grand Slam. If he can keep his wits about him, in two week’s time, he should have his second Major. And that’ll REALLY have golf pundit tongues wagging.
For my part, I like neither Lee Westwood (9/1) nor Martin Kaymer (16/1) for this title. Kaymer has had a good year, with five top ten finishes including a win, but he looked terrible under pressure at The Masters, failing to make the cut. Westwood is the new Montomerie. Luke Donald at 14/1 looks good, though.
Sergio is the player who most intrigues me. Long the holder of the dubious distinction “Best Player Not To Win A Major,” Sergio looks as though this just might be his year.
Two players at 25/1 also could be contenders: Graeme McDowell and Jason Day, who has been o-so-close. Phil Mickelson also is in at 25/1, but I’m certain that an Open Championship will continue to elude him, just as the US Open. I don’t think his gambling, oft reckless style fits those two championships well. He has to hold back and that’s just not his way.
Of the American players, Nick Watney at 28/1 seems to be the best out there right now. I would not be surprised to see Watney and McIlroy in the final group on Sunday.
You can see the complete odds for the 2011 Open Championship below, courtesy of Bodog, the world’s largest betting destination:
Player | Odds |
Rory McIlroy | 5/1 |
Lee Westwood | 9/1 |
Luke Donald | 14/1 |
Martin Kaymer | 16/1 |
Tiger Woods | 16/1 |
Sergio Garcia | 20/1 |
Graeme McDowell | 25/1 |
Jason Day | 25/1 |
Phil Mickelson | 25/1 |
Nick Watney | 28/1 |
Adam Scott | 33/1 |
Bubba Watson | 33/1 |
Charl Schwartzel | 33/1 |
Dustin Johnson | 33/1 |
Ian Poulter | 33/1 |
K.J. Choi | 33/1 |
Padraig Harrington | 33/1 |
Justin Rose | 35/1 |
Alvaro Quiros | 40/1 |
Ernie Els | 40/1 |
Henrik Stenson | 40/1 |
Hunter Mahan | 40/1 |
Matt Kuchar | 40/1 |
Paul Casey | 40/1 |
Retief Goosen | 40/1 |
Steve Stricker | 40/1 |
Chris Wood | 66/1 |
Francesco Molinari | 66/1 |
Geoff Ogilvy | 66/1 |
Jim Furyk | 66/1 |
Louis Oosthuizen | 66/1 |
Rickie Fowler | 66/1 |
Robert Allenby | 66/1 |
Robert Karlsson | 66/1 |
Ross Fisher | 66/1 |
Anthony Kim | 80/1 |
Camilo Villegas | 80/1 |
Edoardo Molinari | 80/1 |
Martin Laird | 80/1 |
Tim Clark | 80/1 |
Zach Johnson | 80/1 |
Angel Cabrera | 100/1 |
Ben Curtis | 100/1 |
Bo Van Pelt | 100/1 |
Darren Clarke | 100/1 |
JB Holmes | 100/1 |
Jeff Overton | 100/1 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez | 100/1 |
Peter Hanson | 100/1 |
Robert Rock | 100/1 |
Rory Sabbatini | 100/1 |
Ryo Ishikawa | 100/1 |
Stewart Cink | 100/1 |
Trevor Immelman | 100/1 |
Vijay Singh | 100/1 |
Anders Hansen | 125/1 |
Brian Davis | 125/1 |
Thomas Levet | 125/1 |
Kevin Na | 150/1 |